{"id":35579,"date":"2025-09-10T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=35579"},"modified":"2025-12-21T23:00:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T07:00:15","slug":"average-real-estate-commission-rate-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/average-real-estate-commission-rate-california\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Average California Real Estate Commission Rate?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most real estate agents in the Golden State get paid through commissions<\/a>. These fees are typically calculated as a percentage of a property\u2019s sale price, though some brokerages will charge a flat fee. The average agent commission rate nationwide<\/a> is 5.8% of the home sale price, according to HomeLight\u2019s real estate transaction data of thousands of home sales each year. But how does that compare to the average real estate commission rate in California?<\/p>\n

In this post, we\u2019ll help you determine the amount of agent fees you might pay on your California home sale<\/a> and what options are available to earn the highest proceeds possible.<\/p>\n

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\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

Find a California Agent 100% Worth Their Commission<\/h3>\n

HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing, trusted agent in your California market. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Started<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the average real estate commission in California?<\/h2>\n

According to HomeLight\u2019s Agent Commissions Calculator<\/a>, you can expect to pay approximately 6% in commissions to a full-service agent when selling a home in California, with some variation based on location within the state. On a property worth the current statewide median home sale price of $884,050<\/a>, that amounts to about $53,043 in commission costs.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of how much you might pay in real estate commissions based on local commission data and what a home sells for in six of the largest cities in the Golden State:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
California city\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nMedian home price<\/strong><\/td>\nAvg. commission rate<\/strong><\/td>\nTypical commission<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Los Angeles<\/td>\n$1,250,000<\/a><\/td>\n4.58%<\/a><\/td>\n$57,250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Diego<\/td>\n$1,170,000<\/a><\/td>\n4.82%<\/a><\/td>\n$56,394<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Francisco<\/td>\n$1,660,000<\/a><\/td>\n5.46%<\/a><\/td>\n$90,636<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fresno<\/td>\n$390,000<\/a><\/td>\n5.66%<\/a><\/td>\n$22,074<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sacramento<\/td>\n$480,000<\/a><\/td>\n5.18%<\/a><\/td>\n$24,864<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

HomeLight gathers agent commission data from cities throughout the U.S. To see if we have commission rates for your city, try our Agent Commissions Calculator<\/a>. As you refine your home sale strategy, use our Net Proceeds Calculator<\/a> to estimate your earnings after closing and the Home Value Estimator<\/a> to get a realistic idea of your property’s market worth, helping you make informed decisions every step of the way.<\/p>\n

Still curious about commission rates in California? Here are the answers to common questions about real estate agent commissions:<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Who pays real estate commission fees?<\/h2>\n

For years, the commission has typically been <\/span>paid by the home seller<\/span><\/a>, and the seller\u2019s agent splits it with the buyer\u2019s agent.<\/span><\/p>\n

As top San Francisco Bay area agent<\/span> Carl Medford <\/span><\/a>explains, \u201cTypically, 2.5% goes to the listing broker, out of which the listing agent is paid, and the same thing on the buyer\u2019s side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, after the landmark lawsuit <\/span>settlement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR)<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>agent fees have changed<\/span><\/a> and been decoupled<\/span>. Instead of sellers automatically covering the buyer\u2019s agent fee, buyers must now negotiate their agent\u2019s compensation directly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite this change, some sellers continue to cover the <\/span>buyer\u2019s agent commission<\/span><\/a> to attract more buyers and speed up sales. For many, this approach remains a strategic move, especially in competitive markets where buyers may be hesitant to take on additional costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

While agent fees can be a significant expense for sellers, Medford emphasizes, \u201cEverything in real estate is <\/span>negotiable<\/span><\/a> \u2014 including commissions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When is the commission paid?<\/h3>\n

The real estate commission<\/a> will automatically be deducted from the sale proceeds at the time of closing. Until then, you won\u2019t owe any money to the real estate agent.<\/p>\n

When the transaction closes, the title or escrow company<\/a> will handle the distribution of funds, ensuring the agents receive their commission. This means the seller doesn\u2019t need to worry about making a separate payment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is the average real estate commission rate in California? Learn how agent fees work and what to expect when selling your home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":305,"featured_media":62344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1198,322,808],"tags":[461],"class_list":["post-35579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california-real-estate","category-logistics","category-real-estate-agent-commissions","tag-selling-a-house-in-california"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat\u2019s the Average California Real Estate Commission Rate?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is the average real estate commission rate in California? 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